After an inquisitive young girl is told that her recently deceased dad is now an ancestor spirit that she can feel whenever she needs, she tries to find his spirit before her first day of kindergarten.
SHORT SYNOPSIS
In "Finding JaMia's Spirit," we follow the journey of JaMia, a curious and optimistic 5-year-old girl. After the loss of her father, JaMia grapples with the concept of him being in a "better place" and feeling abandoned right before her first day of kindergarten. With the guidance of her wise grandmother, Gam Gam, JaMia embarks on a search for her father's ancestor spirit. Through a series of heartwarming moments with her mother, Denise, and flashbacks of her father, JaMia discovers that her father's spirit is always with her, providing comfort and strength.
FULL SYNOPSIS (includes spoilers)
It’s early morning, and JAMIA, an optimistic and inquisitive 5-year-old, plays and colors in the hallway outside a closed door. Soon GAM GAM, her southern roots grandma, visits and questions what JaMia’s doing and JaMia tells her that her mom won’t come out of her room. Gam Gam tells her to give her mom some space, and she takes her into the kitchen to fix breakfast and comb her hair. As Gam Gam finishes JaMia’s hair, she asks her if she is ready for her first day of kindergarten, which is in the afternoon. JaMia shakes her head “No” and then proclaims that she wants “to go to the better place” to be with her dad, who she says “left her” behind. Gam Gam, saddened but compassionate, explains that her dad is an ancestor now and that he’s all around her, and that when she most needs him, she will feel him. This lights up JaMia’s imagination as she heads to the backyard to play.
Soon after, Gam Gam visits JaMia’s mom and her daughter, DENISE, in her dimly lit bedroom and finds her sitting in darkness, folding her belated husband's clothes. Denise tells her mom that she doesn’t know how to move on, and so Gam Gam encourages her to remember her husband's spirit and help JaMia remember her dad as well. Gam Gam then leaves her, and Denise grabs a family photo from the nightstand then walks to the window where she sees JaMia in the backyard. This triggers a flashback to when JaMia’s dad/Denise's husband JAMES, takes a family photo, and he clumsily leaves a footprint in a nearby flower bin. Back to the present, JaMia stares at his now dry footprint. JaMia proceeds to race around her backyard trying to find her dad’s ancestor spirit. She whispers to rocks, leaves, and random flowers with no luck before sitting defeated in the grass, calling out for her dad’s spirit until her Gam Gam calls her in to get ready for school. Now dressed, Gam Gam leads JaMia out of the house, but luckily, Denise was able to drag herself out her bedroom and tells Gam Gam that she can take JaMia to school.
They arrive at school, and as joyful kids run around, JaMia freezes at the sound of the bell, proclaiming that she can’t go to school because she didn’t find her dad. Denise tries to remind JaMia that her dad went to the “better place” until JaMia tells her what Gam Gam told her about his ancestor spirit. Denise then sits JaMia down and tells her that she knows how to find her dad’s spirit. JaMia closes her eyes as Denise asks her to think about the last time she remembers her dad helping her get ready for school. Through a flashback, James and JaMia are getting ready for her first day of school, which ends with a big hug. Back to the present, JaMia shoots her eyes open yelling to her mom, “I can feel him!” JaMia asks her mom if she can feel him too, as she hugs her tight, causing Denise to have a flashback of her joining in on the hug as well. With JaMia’s dad’s ancestor spirit now inside of her, she has exactly what she needs to confidently walk into the school.
In "Finding JaMia's Spirit," we follow the journey of JaMia, a curious and optimistic 5-year-old girl. After the loss of her father, JaMia grapples with the concept of him being in a "better place" and feeling abandoned right before her first day of kindergarten. With the guidance of her wise grandmother, Gam Gam, JaMia embarks on a search for her father's ancestor spirit. Through a series of heartwarming moments with her mother, Denise, and flashbacks of her father, JaMia discovers that her father's spirit is always with her, providing comfort and strength.
FULL SYNOPSIS (includes spoilers)
It’s early morning, and JAMIA, an optimistic and inquisitive 5-year-old, plays and colors in the hallway outside a closed door. Soon GAM GAM, her southern roots grandma, visits and questions what JaMia’s doing and JaMia tells her that her mom won’t come out of her room. Gam Gam tells her to give her mom some space, and she takes her into the kitchen to fix breakfast and comb her hair. As Gam Gam finishes JaMia’s hair, she asks her if she is ready for her first day of kindergarten, which is in the afternoon. JaMia shakes her head “No” and then proclaims that she wants “to go to the better place” to be with her dad, who she says “left her” behind. Gam Gam, saddened but compassionate, explains that her dad is an ancestor now and that he’s all around her, and that when she most needs him, she will feel him. This lights up JaMia’s imagination as she heads to the backyard to play.
Soon after, Gam Gam visits JaMia’s mom and her daughter, DENISE, in her dimly lit bedroom and finds her sitting in darkness, folding her belated husband's clothes. Denise tells her mom that she doesn’t know how to move on, and so Gam Gam encourages her to remember her husband's spirit and help JaMia remember her dad as well. Gam Gam then leaves her, and Denise grabs a family photo from the nightstand then walks to the window where she sees JaMia in the backyard. This triggers a flashback to when JaMia’s dad/Denise's husband JAMES, takes a family photo, and he clumsily leaves a footprint in a nearby flower bin. Back to the present, JaMia stares at his now dry footprint. JaMia proceeds to race around her backyard trying to find her dad’s ancestor spirit. She whispers to rocks, leaves, and random flowers with no luck before sitting defeated in the grass, calling out for her dad’s spirit until her Gam Gam calls her in to get ready for school. Now dressed, Gam Gam leads JaMia out of the house, but luckily, Denise was able to drag herself out her bedroom and tells Gam Gam that she can take JaMia to school.
They arrive at school, and as joyful kids run around, JaMia freezes at the sound of the bell, proclaiming that she can’t go to school because she didn’t find her dad. Denise tries to remind JaMia that her dad went to the “better place” until JaMia tells her what Gam Gam told her about his ancestor spirit. Denise then sits JaMia down and tells her that she knows how to find her dad’s spirit. JaMia closes her eyes as Denise asks her to think about the last time she remembers her dad helping her get ready for school. Through a flashback, James and JaMia are getting ready for her first day of school, which ends with a big hug. Back to the present, JaMia shoots her eyes open yelling to her mom, “I can feel him!” JaMia asks her mom if she can feel him too, as she hugs her tight, causing Denise to have a flashback of her joining in on the hug as well. With JaMia’s dad’s ancestor spirit now inside of her, she has exactly what she needs to confidently walk into the school.
